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The Watches

Accutron Brightens DNA Collection 

Accutron adds four new colors to its electrostatic-movement-powered DNA timepiece collection to create the new Accutron DNA Casino series.

One of four new Accutron DNA Casino watches.

This sportier version of the original Accutron Spaceview series arrives in bright-hues, including green, blue, orange and red, all meant to echo the Las Vegas neon skyline.

Like the initial Accutron DNA models, these debuts feature 45.1mm steel cases in a grey finish with silver-grey accent on the outer hour/minute ring and silver-tone hands.

For each, a colorful open-work dial and crown match its brightly colored integrated rubber strap, which is set with a solid double-press deployant closure.

 

As a reminder, Accutron’s DNA collection and its Spaceview models feature watches powered by Accutron’s proprietary movement that utilizes electrostatic energy as created by rotating twin ‘turbines.’

That energy, stored in an accumulator, powers two motors. One is an electrostatic motor to power the seconds hand and the other is a step motor powering the hour and minute hands. Accutron clocks the movement’s monthly accuracy to plus or minus five seconds.

“The vibrancy and energy of the casino atmosphere came to life in the new Accutron DNA Casino collection,” says Jeffrey Cohen, President of Citizen Watch America. “These new timepieces are a playful way to showcase the world’s first electrostatic powered watch movement.”

Accutron will make each watch as a limited edition of 100 pieces, each priced at $3,500.

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The Watches

Ulysse Nardin Launches Freak One Ops 

Ulysse Nardin dresses its Freak One in khaki and black to unveil the Freak One Ops, a military styled version of its groundbreaking flying carrousel movement watch.

The new Ulysse Nardin Freak One Ops.

This newest Freak retains the same specifications and black DLC case of the Freak One that the watchmaker debuted earlier in 2023. That watch (recently named winner of the Iconic Watch Prize at the 2023 GPHG) combined several favorite Freak designs from the past. These include the notched bezel of the original 2001 Freak, the open gear train seen on the 2013 Freak Cruiser, plus the high-legibility of the 2018 Freak Vision.

Here, Ulysse Nardin offers a more casual version of the earlier design. Instead of the earlier watch’s luxurious gold-finished bezel and movement we see a carbon bezel, a khaki green palette and a sunray patterned barrel cover, creating a stealthier version of the watch.

As noted, the 44mm Freak One Ops maintains all the Freak One’s ‘no hands, no dial and no crown’ technical features, anchored by the highly-visible UN-240 self-winding movement with a 90-hour power reserve.

The movement’s flying carousel, silicon balance wheel and escapement are suspended by a bridge that acts as the minute hand while the second bridge serves as the hour hand.

The Freak One Ops is regulated by a silicon hairspring (which Ulysse Nardin introduced in 2008) with an escapement treated with the synthetic diamond and silicon plasma treatment called DIAMonSIL, which Ulysse Nardin added to the Freak in 2007.

Ulysse Nardin offers the Freak One Ops with a choice of two integrated straps: one in black and khaki “ballistic” rubber, and an alternate two-tone recycled-rubber strap, also in black and khaki. Both have black DLC titanium and black ceramic folding clasps.

Price: $66,500.

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The Watches

Patek Philippe Adds Minute Repeater to Gem-Set Aquanaut

Patek Philippe places a minute repeater within its contemporary Aquanaut Luce collection, launching it within two rose-gold-cased, highly gem-set models. One version on a strap is resplendent in a rainbow of multicolored baguette-cut sapphires while a second model offers an invisible-set baguette-cut-diamond dial and a gem-rich rose gold bracelet.

The new multi-colored Aquanaut Luce Rainbow Minute Repeater Haute Joaillerie (Reference 5260/355R-001).
The new Aquanaut Luce Rainbow Minute Repeater Haute Joaillerie Reference 5260/1455R-001.

While we’ve seen several complications within the Aquanaut since its debut in 1997, including the very recent Annual Calendar (Reference 5261), these debuts, each measuring 38.8mm by 42.5mm, mark the first time the watchmaker has added a minute repeater to the collection.

Patek Philippe has a history of debuting new complicated watches within its collections aimed at feminine watch fans. In 2009 the watchmaker debuted its caliber CH 29-535 PS manually wound chronograph movement in a Ladies First Chronograph model.

And for six years starting in 2011 the Reference 7000 Ladies First Minute Repeater (with the superb caliber R 27 PS) graced the watchmaker’s catalog. Even as far back as 1916, Patek Philippe debuted its first-ever chiming watch as a ladies’ five-minute repeater in a platinum case with a chain bracelet.

 

The new multi-colored Aquanaut Luce “Rainbow” Minute Repeater Haute Joaillerie (Reference 5260/355R-001) shows off the watchmaker’s artisanal prowess set with fifty-two multicolored baguette-cut sapphires, 112 baguette-cut diamonds and 160 brilliant-cut diamonds.

 

Those baguette gemstones are invisibly set, which means each stone is cut with lateral grooves embedded in tiny gold rails that will be invisible once the stone is set.

 

The bracelet model, Aquanaut Luce “Rainbow” Minute Repeater Haute Joaillerie Reference 5260/1455R-001, is set with 130 baguette-cut diamonds on the dial and the outer row of the bezel and 779 multicolored baguette-cut sapphires forming a rainbow on the inner row of the bezel, the flanks of the case, the minute repeater slide-piece and the rose-gold bracelet.

 

Aware that such intense high-carat settings can distract some wearers who deign to check the time, Patek Philippe has been careful to ensure a highly legible dial on each watch. On the bracelet model specifically, twelve multicolored baguette-cut sapphires distinctly mark the hours while the hour hand is set with three baguette rubies and the minute hand is easy to see thanks to five blue sapphires.

Inside both watches, the automatic Caliber R 27 movement chimes on demand on two classic gongs (the hour, quarters and minutes elapsed since the last quarter) when the side-piece is activated. The movement’s off-center 22-karat gold guilloche mini-rotor is visible through a sapphire crystal case back.

For each model, price is on request. 

New Nautilus Models

In addition to debuting the minute repeater in two Aquanaut Luce models, Patek Philippe also debuts three new Nautilus Haute Joaillerie models.

One is cased in white gold set with 1,500 brilliant-cut diamonds with 876 brilliant-cut blue sapphires (6.58 ct, Reference 7118/1451G-001),one offers rubies (Reference 7118/1452G-001) and the third is set with emeralds (Reference 7118/1453G-001) using the “snow setting” technique.

 

With each, the bracelet is equally eye-catching. Diamonds on the outer links of each model contrasts with colored gems on the inner links to better highlight the original construction of the bracelet. Prices on request.

 

And finally, Patek Philippe completes its late-2023 gem-set extravaganza with two new Ladies’ Nautilus models in rose gold with a purple decor.

The new Ladies’ Nautilus Reference 7010R-013.

One, the Ladies’ Nautilus Reference 7010R-013 ($39,624), offers a purple lacquered dial and a matching strap in a composite material, while the second, the Ladies’ Nautilus Reference 7010/1R-013 ($56,183), offers the purple lacquered dial with a rose gold bracelet.

 

 

 

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The Watches

G-Shock Celebrates 40 Years with Carbon-Cased Debuts 

Casio celebrates G-Shock’s 40th anniversary with two full-carbon-cased versions of its first-ever G-Shock watch, the DW5000.

The new models, GCWB5000UN-1 and GCWB5000UN-6, each place the watch’s already high-tech solar-powered timekeeping (paired with Bluetooth and radio controlled accuracy) into a choice of two new lightweight, three-layer carbon cases, each with the G-Shock 40th anniversary logo engraved on the back and the year of G-Shock’s birth noted on the dial .

These are premium models within the extensive 5000 series, which has presented the rectangular G-Shock dial and case for four decades to ardent collectors. 

Available now for the first time in Carbon cases, each of the anniversary editions is built from three types of carbon materials – forged carbon, carbon fiber reinforced resin, and multi-layered carbon. Carbon layers also appear within the dial and the extra thick bracelet.

One model, the GCWB5000UN-1, boasts a monochromatic midnight black hue while the other, GCWB5000UN-6, features a spacey, textured purple design.

Not only are these debuts newly cased in carbon, each case is also somewhat thinner than earlier offerings within its Full Metal sister line. The thinner case and the carbon, case, bracelet and clasp means these new model weight in at 64 grams while the full metal series tips the scales at 167 grams.

Of course both watches feature all the technical features you’d expect from the newest 5000 series models, including the aforementioned solar-powered timekeeping with Bluetooth and radio control, as well as a Super Illuminator (high-brightness full auto LED backlight), shock resistance, 200 meters of water resistance, strong magnetic resistance, four daily alarms, a snooze alarm, world time, countdown timer (24 Hr.), a stopwatch and 12/24-hour time formats.

Look for each model to arrive in 40th-anniversary special packaging.

The G-SHOCK GCWB5000UN-1 and GCWB5000UN-6 are each priced at $2,000 and are available at select retailers, gshock.casio.com/us, and the G-SHOCK Soho store. For more information about the G-SHOCK brand, visit gshock.casio.com/us.

The Father of G-SHOCK, Kikuo Ibe, speaks during the G-Shock 40th Anniversary celebration in NYC on Nov. 9.
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American Brands

Abingdon Launches Formula 1 Las Vegas Watch 

To celebrate the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix 2023, Las Vegas-based Abingdon Co. is launching a limited-edition Year 1 of Las Vegas Race Watch in partnership with Neiman Marcus.

The new Abingdon Year 1 of Las Vegas Race Watch.

Available exclusively at the Neiman Marcus Fashion Show Mall in Las Vegas, the watch is a tribute to the Las Vegas-based brand’s deep-rooted connection to the city and its support of racing. The watch will be available as a limited edition of forty pieces, each numbered. 

“The Year 1 of Las Vegas Race Watch is a passion project for me,” says founder and CEO Abingdon Mullin. “For collectors, enthusiasts, and hobbyists,  I hope this timepiece preserves wonderful memories of an incredibly magical week in Las Vegas.”

The 40mm steel watch is powered by a reliable Seiko Epson YM12 quartz movement and is set with a black leather strap with rally-inspired detailing and red stitching. 

The watch proudly proclaims ‘Las Vegas’ on its bezel and on its caseback, which features a ‘Let’s Race in Fabulous Las Vegas’ engraving.

Abingdon will make forty Year 1 of Las Vegas Race Watches available for purchase at the Abingdon Co. pop-up at the Neiman Marcus Fashion Show Mall during race week (through November 18th.)

Each limited-edition timepiece is priced at $1,499 and will be displayed in a custom racing helmet watch box, echoing the racing equipment worn by the Formula 1 drivers just outside the doors of store.

New Jordan Watches 

In addition to offering the special Formula 1 watch, Abingdon adds five new colors to its Jordan collection, the watch company’s best-selling motoring watch, the Jordan.

As part of the launch, the new in the Jordan collection watch are also upgraded with the latest six-hand Seiko Epson YM12 quartz movement.

The new iteration adds a longer, easy to read tachymeter seconds hand, which is perfect for tracking lap times during a race.

Each watch also features a tachymeter bezel, a second-time zone and a 60-minute stopwatch.

Each watch also  includes an interchangeable matching genuine leather band with race stripe detailing. 

Prices: $650 to $750. 

Source: Abingdon Co.

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